This is the #16 Team Mugen Castrol Honda Accord SiR Touring Car, driven by Osamu Nakako in 1996 and 1997. Designed by Tōru Kitamoto, this was a touring car version of the Honda Accord SiR sedan. It was used in the Japanese and British Touring Car Championships with success.
In the JTCC, the Accord was introduced in 1996 with Mooncraft, Nakajima Planning and Castrol Mugen Honda, replacing the Civic Ferio. Under the hood was a heavily modified 2.0L H22A inline-4 mated to a 6-speed sequential; the car made at least 306 BHP which drives the front wheels. Driven by Naoki Hattori, Takuya Kurosawa and Osamu Nakako with a fourth car added for Ryō Michigami during the final race at Fuji, the Accord won eight races, with Hattori winning the championship winning five races; Nakako won two races that year.
For 1997 the H22A engine was extensively modified; now called the "ultimate engine that honed F1 technology", the Accord remained highly competitive. Kurosawa and Nakako continued driving for Mugen, while Michigami replaced Hattori at Mooncraft; the other seat was filled by Hideki Okada.
The engine was upgraded twice in-season to "2.5X" and "3X" spec; the Accord won eight races, with four wins each by Nakako and Kurosawa, with Nakako winning the championship. After 1997 the Accord was withdrawn from the championship; Nakako would then move to the JGTC with Team Taisan in 1998 and retire from racing in 2000. Nakako's Accord has been preserved by Honda at the Honda Collection Hall.
Now this casting was designed by Mark Jones and introduced in the Hot Wheels Boulevard lineup. This casting has seen two known releases, the last being this one in the Team Transport lineup.
